DANIEL J. PAUL

The colossal, earth-shattering cracks occurred as monumental chunks of ice collapsed, with the shock waves and sounds carrying for many miles. Eventually, ever so slowly, began the creeping retreat of the ancient glaciers. In its wake lay a barren landscape of rock, soil, streams, lakes, rivers and ponds. Years passed, and slowly the beginning strands of life took hold in this desolate place.

As the hundreds of years passed, it would be inhabited first by Native Americans and, much later, by immigrants. Today on the “half-isle” that we call the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (or U.P.) are a sparse amount of hamlets, towns and small cities sprinkled throughout this vast expanse of land.

This special piece of terra firma (the U.P.) holds a unique feeling of attachment. Like a magnet that draws iron, so does the U.P. with its inhabitants. I don’t know if this occurs elsewhere, but there is a special bond–a connection, if you will–that is shared by many residents and former residents. By connection, I mean that whether it occurs stateside or throughout the world, when a resident by chance encounters someone from another area in the U.P., it creates a common bond. This could be forged by the knowledge/memories shared by both individuals of places, people, or things located in the U.P. The following are a few of my personal encounters.

In one encounter, I was visiting my daughter at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and was wearing my Gladstone cap while shopping. A lady noticed my headgear, approached me and asked if I was from Gladstone, Michigan. I responded with “yes”, and she proceeded to inform me her husband was from Escanaba. We shared information on people we were both familiar with, and also various local establishments.

Another encounter occurred at a professional national gathering, while attending a planned event with karaoke as part of the entertainment. A number of attendees from the U.P. decided to partake in the festivities, climbed onto the stage,and introduced ourselves as “Yoopers” (people of the Upper Peninsula). The minute that was announced to the crowd, people from the audience (unknown to any of us) came up to the stage, saying, “I’m from Iron Mountain” or “I’m from Ironwood,” and asked if they could sing along with us.

A final encounter comes from when I portrayed Santa Claus for 5th Group Special Forces, located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After addressing 5th Group, I proceeded to distribute candy canes and pasties. When the pasties began to be distributed, various soldiers inquired as to where I hailed from. My response was Gladstone. This was followed by soldiers identifying where they were from in the U.P. One said, “I’m from Menominee”; another stated, “I have family in Republic, Michigan,” just to name a few.

These personal examples, like a fingerprint — or, in other words, a timeless bond — have left an indelible mark on my memory. Yes, the U.P. is a unique, exceptional place. If you have similar examples to these special encounters and wish to share them with me, send an email to danpaul70@gmail.com, as I may write a follow-up to this article.

We should all give thanks to God that we live on a peninsula (half-isle) that creates such a special, timeless bond.

Daniel J. Paul is a retired school administrator. His articles focus on education, old-fashioned family values, relationships, and other topics. Go to his website at meaningfuldifferences.net.